Toy vehicle



A. J. MIDDLER TOY VEHICLE April 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Mgrch 7, 1945 April 25, 1950 A. J. MIDDLER TOY VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed March 7, 1945 /7- J. MIDOL ER Patented Apr. 25 1950 oFF cE TOY VEHICLE Alexander J. Middler, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 7, 1945, Serial No. 581,523

This invention relates to a childs vehicle adapted to be propelled by pedalling of the rider and has for its object to provide a toy or vehicle of this type which will have an easy, non-centering driving action, which will be reliable and which lends itself to incorporation in a wide variety of body styles and types which will be attractive to children.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for driving and steer-' ing the front wheels of a pedal propelled vehicle.

More particularly it is an object to provide a drive shaft in the form of a front axle having crankthrows formed in the length thereof, to mount the front wheels on spindles outwardly and. axially of the ends of the axle and to connect at least one of I these spindles with the axle through a universal joint of economical and reliable construction.

A further object is to mount pedals directly on the cranks of the axle so that pedalling pressure is exerted directly on the axle thus obviating all pedal linkages.

Another object is to provide an improved and. simplified steering device for the front wheels which consists essentially of steering arms, a tie rod connecting the arms, and a steering shaft which is simply bent at its lower end into an arm which engages an opening in the tie rod.

A further object is to provide an alternate arrangement in which the nonentering action may be directed manuallyeither above or below the direction of force used in pedalling, at the will of the driver, thus providing a reverse drive.

The child driver thus gets the effect of shifting gears, without having toput his feet on the ground.

4 Claims. (01. 280E267) Other objects and advantages will become along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4--4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of childs automobile taken along the line 5- 5 of Figure 6, showing a drive similarto that of Figures 1 to 4 and including a reversible overcentering device for the crankshaft,

the

, umn I9 thus providing a second bearing or Figure 6 is a side elevation of the toy of Fig-U ure 5 with the front portion thereof broken away along the vertical longitudinal section 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a broken section similar to the front end of the view in Figure 6 showing the reversing mechanism in opposite position from that illustrated in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

More particularly, I refers to the main side frames of a childs automobile having a front cross frame 2. A portion of the body which includes a seat for the child is indicated generally at 3 across the rear of the side frames. Riveted or otherwise secured to the sides I near the front end thereof are king pin brackets 4 composed of a sizable plate residing directly adjacent each side frame and laterally extending upper and lower king pin receiving portions 5.

A crankshaft 6 having two spaced cranks I and 8 intermediate the ends thereof projects at each end through a side frame I and a bracket 4, openings in these members serving as journals for the crankshaft. Bearings may be provided in the side frame, if desired. Each crank I and 8 has a foot pedal 9 rotatably mounted thereon-for propulsion of the vehicle by a rider.

Each front wheel II] and II turns on a hollow spindle I2. Each spindle has two king pin ears I4 and two king pin pins I3 connect these ears to the king pin portions 5 of the brackets d. The two wheels II] and I I are thus capable'of being steered while rotating. A steering arm I5 is rig-' idly secured to each king pin ear I4, projecting forwardly thereof. A steering link or tie rod I6 is pivotally connected at each end I! thereof to a steering arm and is provided with an opening I8 substantially intermediate the ends thereof. If this tie rod I 6 is moved laterally the wheels I0 and I I are rotated pivotally on their king pins I3 thus steering the vehicle.

In order to accomplish the lateral movement of the tie rod I6, I provide a steering column 29, having a steering wheel I9a at its upper end and supported near its lower end in a bracket 2%. This bracket is elongated, being bent normally at its upper end 2| where it is pierced to receive the steering column I9. The lower end of this bracket is also bent substantially normally at 22 and substantially flared laterally at 22a for attachment to the main cross frame 2. The bent portion 22 is pierced to receive the steering colof support for the steering column.

point wheel I l I insert a universal joint of simple form, composed of two yoke members 23 and 24 adapted-z to be attached at their ends, and in normal relation to each other, to a common ei'ephragnr zv which may be made of leather; of rubber impregnated fabric or other similar flexible material. The yoke 23 has a central collar s'u itable for receipt of and attachment to the crankshaft 6 while the yoke fiti-"terrn'inates -i'n. a drivingstllb axles 26 having 1' an" end of: other thaw-round shape preferably, --square or rectangular in cross-section. The stub axle extends. freely through the spindle i2 and through a similarly shapedtslot in a; wheel plate 2'! which is rigidly secured to theexterior surface of the wheel H;

as by riveting or welding. A. cotterkey-or'pin 2'8" retains the axle-against movement to the left, as viewed in Figure 4. A collarZSwveldedbto the' axleezeiprevents axial movement'of the-axle to therright with respect to the spindle.- Rotation of:the crankshaft 6- thuscauses rotation of the axle:- 2i -a11ci-consq1ient rotation of the wheel I I: The universal joint-permits steering of the wheel duringrotation An axlecap-BZ is added for ap pearance;

The-otherfront wheel ha's asupporting'-a s-- sembly exactly the same as that for the wheel H The universalj'ointis omit-ted.-- In order to retainthevvheel-onthe'spindle I duplicate the end of the stub axle thus providing a short shaft 53 having a weided collar forresid'ence inside the spindle; a cotter key or pin 55' being inserted through the shaft 53- outwardly of the wheel, all bein sirnii-arrto the construction previously; de scribed.

In Figures v5; 6 and '7" a variable over-centering; device is added-to theconstruction previously described; By this,xthe line. of force applied to ai pedal is elevated above :the normall-radial?pathz when the lever is in. one extreme positio'rryand the-lineefthe force isdepressedwhen thelever is shifted-1 tovits" other extreme position-ii:- 'Inothe z first :case: the natural and easiest movement of forward dir ctio-n while in the:

the vehicle is n second-case th a-tural and jeas-iest movement of the've'hicle-is reverse directions-The==efiect is that the: can: shift gears."

In; Figures 53 6 andt'l all' parts are identical? with the-parts?- nrev-ious described except as: may he specifically note LhiSica-Se, the side rails=-3-l are; joined-at theirfront endeby a cross member-13d: and atthe rear'end-by a cross Elem-f her Two front wheels 3% and- 34 ea'eh rotate on a hollow-spindle 35 and each spindle has two; king pin earsor flanges 36; Secured to each side" rail issabracket -31 havingtwo lateral extensions; 38,- these extensions being pierced by-holes which align with holes izrtlieflanges 35 to receive-king pins 3El;'therewithr This provides forste'ering the front wheels, it being understood that-steep ing arms, a steening ;link, a steeringecolum n, aw

universal joint and stub axle; etc as describedin connection with Figuresl te hare tobe added;

4 to the showings of Figures 5 to 8 but are omitted in these latter figures to clarify the showing in other respects.

A crankshaft 40 having two crank throws 4i and 42 has its ends extending through aligned holes in side rails 3| and brackets 31, the holes serving as journals although plain or ball bearings may be provided if desired.

Rotataloly attached to each crank 4| and 42 is apeeai roe gae e i of wincn has a pedal44 pivotal'ly' mouhted on the outer cridthereof.

, ecured onto the main frames 3| and 32 is a b'oiiy, generally indicated by the numeral 45. Pivotally mounted within the body towards the frontend thereof and at each side thereof is a manually op'erable bell crank mounted at 48 on thezbody 4.5. These are the reversing arms or .fgear shiftleversf The two bell cranks are 'conneetid at their lower ends by a shaft 49.

Radius rods 59 pivotally connected to the shaft 49 ati-one*end:are each pivotallyconnected at theirother endto a pedal 44:

Inoperatien, when the bell cranks or reversing leversarefin forward driveposition as shown inFigure fi the linejof force exerted through the outerpeda-l: 4 'l is a-bove theaxis of the crankshaft, asshownrhy-the-arrow; Pressure on that pedal therefore rotates the crankshaftrinajdirection rotated a directiQn-tocause the to'f'cause forward: motion of the vehicle. If the reversing-leversare therr shifted by elevating the handles SJ-to theposi-tiqn shown in Figure '7 the line off orceexertedithrough the outermost pedal itwill l helow the axisofthe crankshaft, as indicated the ar row,, and:the crankshaft will be vehicle to move-:rearweirdly.- v

In either or both. forms of my invention, I contemplate-thatthe rear wheels'49 shall be mounted on the ends of a common axle 50in conventional .manner: The mainwcross member 3ll-and the side axle" may sbe adjusted: This pin thus 1 constitutes a bearing whiehwpermi-ts thebody to shift its positionvertical-lywith. respect to the axle in order to compensatesomewhat for unevenness of the ground..and,. being ofisetfrom the center line of thevehicle to the right as illustrated, it acts to 'throw theweight "of the vehicle onto the left front wheel which'doesthe driving;

Various changes may be made without depart ingfrom' the.spiritofmyyinventionand I desire to berextended; protection-esdefined by the appended claims, wherein} WhatI claim-is:

L. In a child s vehicle, a frame having two wheels near the-rear-end thereof,:an axle for said wheels; a single-= poin-t; rocker support for said frame intenrnediate the ends of said axle and 01T- set from the middle of said axle, said rocker support-beingirigidly-secured-to said frame, said axle having loose fitting-engagement with openings through said fra-me neanthe ends thereof whereby the rear end of said framemayrock on said rocker suppont 2..In achild s vehicle-,]a frame having two wheelsnean-therear end-thereof, an" axlefor saidwheels, in single poi-nt-g rocker support for said".

15mm on saidaxle'intermediateits ends andoifset from the middle thereof, said rocker support being rigidly secured to said frame, said axle having loose fitting engagement with openings in said frame near the ends thereof whereby the rear end of said frame may rock on said rocker support, and means for applying propulsive effort only to the front wheel on the side of the vehicle opposite from that of the offset of said rocker support.

3. In a childs vehicle, a frame having two front wheels and two wheels near the rear end thereof, an axle for said wheels, at single point rocker support for said frame on said axle intermediate its ends and offset from the middle thereof, said rocker support being rigidly secured to said frame, said axle having loose fitting, engagement with openings in said frame near the ends thereof whereby the rear end of said frame may rock on said rocker support, a crankshaft between said front wheels having pedals operatively connected to the cranks thereof, the front wheel at the 0pposite side of said vehicle from said rocker support having a stub driving axle and a universal joint between said crankshaft and said stub axle, the other of said front wheels being freely rotatable independently of the first mentioned front wheel.

4. In a childs vehicle, a frame having two front REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 807,156 Cleveland Dec. 12, 1905 919,854 Gross Apr. 27, 1909 1,255,595 Gerson Feb. 5, 1918 1,613,356 Norrish Jan. 4, 1927 1,724,725 Rohm Aug. 13, 1939 1,778,143 Carlson Oct. 14, 1930 2,127,104 Bucklin Aug. 16, 1938 2,350,439 Wright June 6, 1944 2,384,950 Middler Sept. 18, 1945 

